• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Pay the initial fee for certification
• Baccalaureate degree, except as provided in Kentucky Revised Statues 309.084
• 6,000 hours of board-approved experience working with alcohol or drug dependent persons; 300 hours of direct supervision by a certified alcohol and drug counselor who has at least 2 years of post-certification experience
• 270 classroom hours of board-approved curriculum
• Passed written exam approved by the ICRC
• Oral exam
• 2 letters of reference from certified alcohol and drug counselors
• Signed an agreement to abide by the standards of practice and code of ethics approved by the board
• 6 hours of ethics training
• 2 hours of training in the transmission, control, treatment, and prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus

Renewal: Every 3 years with completion of 60 hours continuing education